Workhorse Belisle feeling better than ever

On July 20, Belisle gave up four hits and two runs and let a possible Rockies victory slip away in Pittsburgh. It was at the end of a nine-game stretch in which Belisle went 0-4 with an 11.57 ERA, and opponents hit .471 with a .513 on-base percentage against him.

Belisle said at that point he would be "back on top," at a time when many observers wondered if he had pitched his way out of town. Since then, Belisle has given up just two runs in eight appearances. By last Thursday's non-waiver Trade Deadline, contending teams were hoping the Rockies would send him away. It didn't happen.

During the good stretch, Belisle has had plenty of traffic -- eight hits and three walks in 8 1/3 innings. But he is making enough pitches to show why he has been one of the most frequently used pitchers in the Majors in recent seasons. Wednesday night's scoreless inning in a 13-4 victory over the Cubs, during which he walked one and gave up a hit, but forced a key double-play grounder, was his 354th appearance since the start of the 2010 season.

Belisle, who has pitched in 52 games heading into Thursday's action and 72 or more in each of the past four seasons, insists there's a lot left in his arm and heart.

"You always want to have success and consistency and great numbers all year, but one thing I love is the pressure -- having to fight and grind," Belisle said. "That's what makes great ballplayers. I look at every season as an opportunity to become stronger at the grind. Have an unwavering confidence and belief, and win the day. I really try to focus on that."

At 34, Belisle has remained in top condition and there is no major issue with his arm. Last year, his fastball velocity dropped to 90.5 mph, the lowest it's been since he joined the Rockies. The dip sparked concerns that the heavy workload had negatively impacted his arm. However, this year he is up to 91.5 mph, which is not far below the 92-plus range of his best years.

While Belisle doesn't concern himself with velocity, the increase supports his belief that he still has the necessary physical ability. Belisle said the career-long battle to repeat his delivery, as well as a tendency to overanalyze himself, have been issues.

"Mentally and physically, I'm at the best of my career right now," Belisle said. "Now, the results need to be there, and they will. I know I have a lot more in me, and a lot more to give to my team.

"It's just me getting out of my old way. It's me figuring things out, looking at journals from my successes, going to people who have seen me for a long time and pulling things out. It's just digging deep. I really tightened up my mindset and focus, doing things before the pitch to focus on executing, and made small adaptations of the grips on my pitches to feel better command. I'm also doing some mechanical things each day to make sure I can repeat my delivery -- small steps."

Nicasio returns to Rockies -- as a reliever

DENVER -- Righty reliever Juan Nicasio was greeted by smiling closer LaTroy Hawkins when he returned to the Rockies' clubhouse on Thursday -- yet another message that the bullpen can be a happy place.

Optioned to Triple-A Colorado Springs on June 16 after 14 Major League starts (5-5, 5.92 ERA), Nicasio has pitched in relief in six of his 10 Sky Sox appearances. Five of his relief appearances were more than one inning.

He pitched the seventh and eighth innings of the Rockies' 6-2 loss to the Cubs and gave up one hit -- a two-run homer to Cubs phenom Javier Baez. He also walked one and struck out one.

"He gave up the home run, but I liked the way he was throwing the ball. It looked to me like his velocity was up. He looked aggressive. He looked comfortable sprinting for a couple innings. He gave up the home run, but I don't think it was necessarily a bad pitch. He got caught in Baez's swing path. It looked like it was a slider down and away. It was a nice piece of hitting by Baez, but it wasn't a bad pitch," said manager Walt Weiss.

Nicasio, 27, said it took time to accept this change in role, but Colorado Springs manager Glenallen Hill and pitching coach Dave Schuler gradually sold him on the idea.

"I was not happy, but I couldn't control that," Nicasio said. "G-Hill called me to the office and told me to go to the bullpen, and I was sad. I'd never thrown in the bullpen in my whole life. But I worked hard.

"Later, I talked to G-Hill and Schuler, too, and they said a lot of starting pitchers went to the bullpen, like Mariano Rivera -- a lot of good closers in the big leagues. Now I'm happy. Now I'm throwing good and feeling good."

The Rockies needed Nicasio because the bullpen is still recovering from Tuesday night's 12-inning, 6-5 loss to the Cubs in which relievers threw eight innings. They called up righty Brooks Brown Wednesday, and he pitched the ninth inning. On Thursday, they sent Brown back to Colorado Springs and recalled Nicasio.

Whether Nicasio's change is permanent hasn't been determined, according to Weiss.

"The reports are good about Juan," Weiss said. "Knowing Juan and looking at the situation from my perspective, he strikes you more as a guy who can sprint with a big arm and go after hitters. And do that anywhere from between an inning and three innings."

"Sometimes it takes a pitcher [time] to get there mentally. I'd imagine that most pitchers want to be starters. There's a lot more glory in starting than pitching out of the bullpen. … Ultimately, it gets down to what's your best chance at success, helping the club win games and fitting on a club. Those are all things we have to determine."

Nicasio said he has concentrated on his four-seam fastball and slider. The split-finger changeup he developed to increase his effectiveness as a starter is still there, but he uses it sparingly.